Leeds Evening Seminar
Responding to Youth Violence,
Knife Crime and County Lines
DSI Carl GalvinForce Authorising Officer & Director of Intelligence│
West Yorkshire Policeand
Iain HadleyRegional Manager, Yorkshire│ St Giles Trust
22 May, 2019
@academyjustice
Academy for Social Justice
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National, Regional and West Yorkshire
Overview
County Lines and
Serious Violent Crime.
Author D/Supt. Carl Galvin – West Yorkshire.
The contents of this document contain should not be disseminated without
reference to the originator.
County Lines is a term used to describe gangs or organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs in to one or
more importing areas (within the UK), using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move (and store) the drugs and
money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons.
County Lines is a term used to describe gangs or organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs
Gangs
A relatively durable, predominantly street-based group of young people who;
(1) See themselves (and are seen by others) as a discernible group, and
(2) Engage in a range of criminal activity and violence
They may also have any or all of the following factors:
(3) Identify with or lay claim over territory
(4) Have some form of identifying structural feature
(5) Are in conflict with other, similar, gangs.
Organised Crime Group
An organised crime group is defined as a group which has at its purpose, or one
of its purposes, the carrying on of criminal activities and consists of three or more
people who agree to act together to further that purpose.
It is not necessary for the individual participating in the group's criminal activities
to know any of the group members.
in to one or more importing areas (within the UK), using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”
• This can be between counties, cities, towns and villages but also
inter county, city, town and village. Note the importing area is not
defined only that it is different from the exporting area.
They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move (and store) the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and
weapons
Exploitation: CSEA, CCE, Cuckooing / Trap
houses, cohersion.
Violence: Murder, assaults, Firearms
offences, Knife Crime, use of corrosive
substances.
Weapons: Guns, Knives, acid and corrosive
substances.
.
National Picture – County Lines
Export Import
National picture Serious Violent Crime
Nationally Serious Violent Crime is increasing with offences involving
Knives being reported in the media almost weekly. Recent reports
suggest that the rise in Serious Violent Crime can be linked to ‘Drill’
music, Moped Crime, Cuckooing and County Lines.
Note: Serious Violent Crime involving Knives –
The Home Office definition of a Knife Crime is any offence which
involves an instrument used as a weapon that is sharp and capable of
piercing the skin. When examining the Serious Violent Crime data.
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE
West Yorkshire Position – SVC Involving knives
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
Fre
q.
Month
SVC - Involving knifes - 12 month rolling average - per district(01/01/2015-31/12/2018)
Bradford Calderdale Kirklees Leeds Wakefield
West Yorkshire Position
• Developing Picture – 9 OCG / 20 USG
• Known to be an Exporter
• 3 Key Terms – Import / Export / Internal
• Branded Lines V CL
• The numbers – 156 Branded / 42 Linked to OCGs
• Over 1000 lines identified nationally
• Predominantly Met, West Midlands and North West
• Territory disputes and violence in importing area
making it hard to investigate
• Identified as a principle threat in recent key documents
– NCA Drugs Strategy, HO Vioilent Crime Strategy
• HMIC Thematic inspection on County Lines and
associated crime
CHALLENGES
• Intelligence Gaps
• Use of appropriate legislation
• Ownership and connectivity
• Technololgy
• Vulnerability / CCE
OPPORTUNITIES
• Enhanced partnership working – shared responsibility and
shared solutions
• Development of new legislation – DDTRO
• CL Coordination Centre and coordinator network
• Home Office CCE guidance
Iain Hadley
Regional Manager
St Giles Trust: www.stgilestrust.org.uk
St Giles Trust – Who are we?
National charity driven by the value of
embracing lived experience.
Offering a second chance to people
from all backgrounds to use their
experience in a positive way.
Award winning Peer Advisor Model
Delivering services across Yorkshire in
respect of:
- Employability
- Children and families
- Gangs
- Knife Crime
- Resettlement
- Women's Services
Saving to the
taxpayer for every
£1 invested in our
Peer-led services
Number of people
who trained as Peer
Advisors in 2017/18
People were
helped to find a
permanent home
People helped in 2017/18
- Engaged over
4000 Children
Worked with 37 different organisations
Offered 8 young people intensive support.
- Worked in various settings to debunk myths and stereotypes around knives and gangs
- Equipping children with the practical tools and strategies they need to build resilience and say ‘NO!’
- Share stories from those who have been there done that!
Preventing Knife Crime
20% of young people
we work with admit
carrying a knife
44% know someone
who carries a knife
Of the population are
affiliated with gangs
Cost to the economy
from gangs, serious
organised crime and
associated problems
1%
What do we know?
‘St Giles delivered two sessions for us for very challenging young people on the fringes of being involved in gangs, 13-16 year old boys and girls. What impressed me was the matter of fact way that they delivered the information. They are real people that have been in real situations and are telling real stories – that gives them a real credibility – the young people were riveted, gripped from beginning to end – and that’s not easy to do with these groups.’ Youth Worker.
‘They got kids engaged. They realised that these people (SGT staff) were from similar backgrounds to them….. You listen when someone says something that is directly relatable to your own situation and background’ Deputy Head Teacher
‘It was fantastic to listen to and take away a lot from the presentation –really engaging enthusiastic and relevant. I would have found it invaluable to have met the facilitator 15 years ago when I started my career’ Police Officer
Some testimony:
Gang Peer Advisor Model
Case Worker and Peer Advisors to offer wrap around
support to referrals to deliver bespoke
action plan.
Engage 20 – 40
individuals.
Recruit and Train 4 - 6
Peer Advisors
Benefits and Impact
- Identified individuals and
their families fully supported
and diverted away from
involvement in Serious
Youth Violence
- Increased collaboration
between community and
statutory partners.
- Increased community based
resource for tackling Youth
Violence, County Lines and
Knife Crime.
• SOS and SOS+ is the largest Ex Offender Led program of it’s kind within the UK having engaged with over 25ooo young people in 2018
• Professional and approachable with lived experience of adversity, representing communities from across Yorkshire
• Equipped with the City and Guilds Level 3 Advice and Guidance
• Regular support and supervision from case work staff and other Peer Advisors
• Risk assessed referral and support to address holistic needs against all specified pathways
SOS and Gang Peer Advisor Program
Resistance to engagement / non engagement.
• Minimizing, blaming denial. • What works: Respect honesty, trust,
building rapport, availability, consistency, healthy boundaries, incentives, time and space.
Engagement • Interested but not sure• What works: incentives, healthy
boundaries, trust, rapport, availability, quality of intervention, skills and expertise of staff.
Reverting to form • True Self• Reduced repertoire• What works: gentle and respective,
challenging, maintaining trust, motivational work and consistency.
What you have to get through:
The solution…..
The Right Worker:
- Real lived experience
- Engagement as a given
- Ability to get things done
- Credibility with clients and partners
- Walking the walk
- We can’t match every characteristic, but trying isn’t a bad idea……
The Right Offer:
Casework – practical help
Peer Advice – Emotional help
Role Modelling – something to aim for
Challenge – the push back
Navigation – help with other agencies
Help with your surroundings –family, friends, risk
• Young people are resistant
• They are exploited and vulnerable and want help – but don’t know who to trust
• The risks are great and some agencies don’t get it
• There isn’t specialist support available in most areas
BUT
• Change is possible
• People do exit this lifestyle
• Many professionals are great, and a lot of agencies know most of this already. ….. But these issues can’t be ignored
In summary:
Give people with lived experience a chance
– trust us it’s worth it!
This is an epidemic that can only be cured through prevention and early intervention
Partnerships are key, nobody has everything but together we can have it all!
3 Key Messages
Any Questions ?
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Academy for Social Justice